Image forming apparatus for optimizing smoothing processing based on development used characteristic of image cartridge and cartridge thereof

Abstract

A CPU in the main body of the apparatus reads out data for smoothing processing from a ROM in an image cartridge for output to a smoothing circuit. The smoothing circuit performs a prescribed smoothing processing based on the data for smoothing processing and outputs the smoothed image data through an input/output control circuit and a printer engine interface circuit to a printer engine which forms an image. As a result, an optimum image processing suitable for any development characteristic can be performed for an image cartridge which is not compatible with the data for image processing of the main body, and a good quality image can be formed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image forming apparatus which processes image data to form an image on an image holding member for reproduction, said image forming apparatus comprising: a detachable cartridge having a plurality of associated elements to form an image on said image holding member, at least one of said plurality of associated elements having an electrostatic latent image formation characteristic, and a memory to store data corresponding to said latent image formation characteristic(s) for a prescribed image processing of image data;   an image processing circuit for processing image data in accordance with said electrostatic latent image formation characteristic data stored in said memory; and   image forming means for forming an image on said image holding member, using said plurality of associated elements, with image data processed by said image processing circuit.   
     
     
       2. An image forming apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of associated elements includes a photoreceptor for holding a latent image and a developer for developing the latent image on said photoreceptor. 
     
     
       3. An image forming apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said image processing circuit includes a smoothing circuit, wherein said smoothing circuit performs a smoothing operation during said prescribed image processing.   
     
     
       4. An image forming apparatus which receives image data from a coupled host computer and processes said image data to form a latent image on a photoreceptor for reproduction, said image forming apparatus comprising: a removable cartridge having at least: a developer having an electrostatic latent image development characteristic for developing said latent image on said photoreceptor, and   a memory for storing smoothing data for a smoothing process for said image data, said smoothing process being susceptible to the influence of said latent image development characteristic of said developer;     an interface circuit, connected to said host computer, for accepting image data from said host computer;   a smoothing circuit, connected to said interface circuit, for performing said smoothing process based on said smoothing data stored in said memory; and   latent image forming means for forming said latent image on said photoreceptor based on the image data smoothed by said smoothing circuit.   
     
     
       5. An image forming apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said smoothing circuit comprises a circuit which increases a resolution of said image data.   
     
     
       6. An image forming apparatus which processes image data to form an image on an image holding member for reproduction, said image forming apparatus comprising: an image processing circuit for processing image data based on prescribed data for image processing;   a detachable cartridge having a plurality of associated elements for forming said image on said image holding member based on the image data processed by said image processing circuit;   a first memory for storing prescribed data for image processing by said image processing circuit;   determination means for determining whether said cartridge has a second memory, said second memory storing data for image processing by said image processing circuit which corresponds to said plurality of associated elements of said cartridge;   reading means for reading out the data of said second memory in response to a determination by said determination means that said cartridge has a second memory, and for reading out the prescribed data of said first memory in response to a determination by said determination means that said cartridge does not have a second memory; and   setting means for setting the data for image processing read out by said reading means.   
     
     
       7. An image forming apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said plurality of associated elements includes a photoreceptor for holding a latent image and a developer for developing the latent image on said photoreceptor. 
     
     
       8. An image forming apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said image processing circuit includes a smoothing circuit for smoothing said image data. 
     
     
       9. An image forming apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said determination means includes means for detecting whether or not said cartridge has an interface circuit and determines whether or not said cartridge has said second memory based on a result of said detection.   
     
     
       10. A cartridge detachably provided to an image forming apparatus for forming a developed image on a photoreceptor based on image data subjected to a smoothing processing by a smoothing circuit provided in said image forming apparatus externally of said cartridge, comprising: a photoreceptor for holding a latent image;   a developer for developing the latent image to form said developed image on said photoreceptor; and   a memory storing data for said smoothing processing by said externally provided smoothing circuit.   
     
     
       11. A cartridge attachable to an image forming apparatus having an image processing circuit for processing received image data, said cartridge comprising: a plurality of associated forming elements to form an image based on said processed image data, wherein at least one of said plurality of forming elements has an electrostatic image formation characteristic and said processing of said image data is susceptible to an influence of said electrostatic image formation characteristic of said at least one of said plurality of forming elements; and   a memory having data stored for said image data processing, such stored data corresponding to said electrostatic image formation characteristic of said at least one of said plurality of forming elements, wherein said image processing circuit performs said processing of said image data based on said stored data in said memory.   
     
     
       12. A cartridge as claimed in claim 11, wherein said plurality of associated forming elements includes a photoreceptor for holding a latent image and a developer for developing the latent image on said photoreceptor. 
     
     
       13. A cartridge as claimed in claim 11, wherein said image processing circuit includes a smoothing circuit for smoothing said received image data in accordance with said data stored in said memory. 
     
     
       14. An image forming method for use in an image forming apparatus having a detachably removable cartridge having a plurality of associated elements, at least one of said plurality of associated elements having an electrostatic latent image formation characteristic, and a memory storing data, said data corresponding to said latent image formation characteristic(s) of said plurality of associated elements, said image forming method comprising the steps of: reading said data from said memory for a prescribed image processing of image data, said prescribed image processing being susceptible to influence by said latent image formation characteristic of said at least one said plurality of associated elements;   performing said prescribed image processing of said image data based on said data read from said memory; and   forming an image on an image holding member using said plurality of associated elements based on said processed image data.   
     
     
       15. The image forming method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said cartridge further includes said image holding member, said image holding member being a photoreceptor for holding a latent image, and a developer for developing the latent image on said photoreceptor. 
     
     
       16. The image forming method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said prescribed image processing includes a smoothing processing, and said data read from said memory is related to said smoothing processing.